Keep on the sunny side,
Always on the sunny side.
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will brighten up your day
It will brighten up your way
If you keep on the sunny side of life.

The kids are home these past two day for a fictional teachers’ convention, so I’ve been only able to take some furtive glances at the computer in between jumping on the trampoline and wiping tears from a playdate gone bad.

Last night, I grabbed all those lovely charts from the Times to use for a lecture on elections and parties next semester. I’m making the big move to power point and am having fun with putting graphics and videoes into my presentations. How can I steer a lecture on the presidency, so that I can insert a 20 second clip of Nixon’s Checkers speech? Technology drives the lecture.

I’ve been loving the post-election spin from the party leaders and media sources. For the Democrats, it’s all about lowering expectations and promising collaboration.

The Republicans have been very good about not appearing to be quibblers. They’ve conceded that they lost and lost big. Now, they all claim some relief. Some say that they are happy to not be forced to back that loser Bush anymore. They said they had to back him, but are now relieved to move on. Others find beauty in the democratic process.

I think the Republican pundits are also looking forward to beating up on Nancy Pelosi. Some are saying privately that they are even looking forward to inevitable Clinton presidency, because it is so much more fun to bash, than to support. The Republicans need another six years to regroup after the Bush fiasco, so four years of a Hillary presidency will give them that extra time.

Perhaps another post later. Right I’m taking the kiddies over to IKEA for breakfast.